Rose: The Play

I wrote this last year.

Scene: John and Rose on a bridge overlooking London at night. Rose is leaning over the bridge looking down below. John leans against the bridge beside her.

John: A penny for your thoughts.

Rose: I’m not really sure what I’m thinking.

John: I’m glad you’re back. (Strokes Rose’s hair)

Rose: It’s really good to see you again. (Smiles at John)

John: You know, I’d been thinking.

Rose: (looks away from the water and faces him) What?

John: You and I. We should get married.

Rose: You know that can never happen. (She looks below again)

John: You love him, don’t you?

Rose: It’s more complicated than that. Much more.

John: You’re not safe with him. You’d be safe here, with me, like old times. Why can’t you stay? (Raises his voice, his fist pounding the railing.)

Rose: There is nothing here for me.

(Enter the man)

John: Nothing. I’m nothing. (Stands away from the railing to be directly in front of her.)

Rose: I didn’t mean it like that. (Looks at the man, upset)

The Man: Rose, it’s time to go.

John: So that’s it then. You just gonna leave me here. Will I ever see you again?

Rose: I don’t know. (Looks at John sadly and goes to stand by the Man)

John: You are going to leave…with him. You aren’t even sure who he is. I’m not sure who he is.

The Man: I’ll take care of her, I promise. (Places his arm around Rose)

John: But you can’t promise. (Looks at the Man)

The Man: (looks down at his feet)

John: You live a life of risk, constantly in danger. She will never be safe.

The Man: She has me.

John: Yeah, you.

Rose: This is what I want.  Think about it! I was a cashier at a grocery store! Now I’m travelin’ the world!

John: What’s wrong with cashiers?

Rose: I couldn’t live like that.

John: You’ll come back.

Rose: I don’t know.

The Man: I only got a couple minutes of power, Rose. You have to come now.

John: Can’t you stay a little longer?

The Man: I’m sorry John. I’ve only got a couple of minutes.

John: (aside) Never gonna see her again and he tells me she has to leave now.

Rose: I’m sorry, John. We had fun times together. (Puts her hand on his shoulder)

John: There could be more of that if you stayed.

The Man: (Glances behind him anxiously, then looks at Rose sadly)

Rose: I’m coming.

The Man: I wish we had more time. I’m sorry. But we’ll be stuck here.

John: Go on then.

Rose: Don’t forget about me. But listen: find someone else.

John: You know I won’t, and there never will be anyone else.

Rose: (Now crying, puts her hand in the Man’s.)

(Rose and the Man leave the scene)